Photography stand system

Abstract

A photography stand system is disclosed assembled from elongate support members into either a tripod or framework structure. The elongate support members form the legs of the camera tripod, each assembled to a tripod platform by mating engagement of fittings into tracks formed in the elongated support members in order to be height positionable. Cameras and various photographic accessories may be mounted to the platform and secured to any adjusted position along the length of each of the support members by coupling fittings including T-bolts fit within the tracks in each of the tripod legs. The support members may also be assembled in end-to-end relationship by a coupling element secured in each end of the support members, and erected into a framework with the camera and various accessories similarly positionable along the length of any of the support members.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A photograph stand system comprising a plurality of elongate support members, each of said elongate support members having at least one T-slot extending along substantially the entire length thereof; means for assembling and securing said elongate support members together in a support structure; as least one coupling sleeve including T-bolt threadedly received in said sleeve and having the T-portion disposed in said T-slot, each of said support elements further including a face portion extending along the length thereof adjacent said T-slot, whereby said coupling sleeve may be rotated towards said T-portion to clamp said sleeve and said T-portion on opposite sides of the face portion of the support member at any point along the length thereof, said coupling sleeve further including a threaded stud extending away from the sleeve for mounting fixtures for cameras or photographic accessories;   whereby said photography stand system enables adjustable positioning of said coupling sleeve at points along the length of any of said elongate support members.   
     
     
       2. The photography stand system according to claim 1 which further comprises a platform, three of said support members, and means for mounting one end of each support member to the platform to form a legged stand. 
     
     
       3. The photography stand system according to claim 2 wherein said means for mounting each of said support members to said platform comprises clamp assembly means, each of said clamp assembly means mounted to one of said elongated support members at one end, said clamping assembly means including a T-bolt including head portion thereof disposed in said at least one slot in each of said respective elongate support members and further including means for clamping said T-bolts in said slots, whereby each of said elongate support members comprises a leg adjustable in length defined by the position of said T-bolts in said respective slots. 
     
     
       4. The photography stand system according to claim 3 wherein each of said clamping assembly means comprises a clevis mounted to said T-bolt and means pivotally mounting each of said clevises to said platform enabling swinging adjustable movement of each of said legs with respect to said platform. 
     
     
       5. The photography stand system according to claim 3 wherein each of said elongate support members is formed with at least two T-slots extending down the length thereof on opposite sides of each of said elongate support members serving as legs for the platform. 
     
     
       6. The photography stand system according to claim 4 further including a center post slidably mounted to said platform, said center post being formed with at least one T-slot extending down the length thereof, further including means for adjustably securing said center post to said platform by interengagement with said T-slot. 
     
     
       7. The photography stand system according to claim 1 wherein said means for mounting said plurality of elongate support members into said photography stand system includes means for mounting said elongate support members in end-to-end relationship therebetween and also in transverse relationship to provide such photography stand system. 
     
     
       8. The photography stand system according to claim 7 wherein each of said elongate support members includes end caps, each of said end caps being provided with transverse T-slots and means for alternatively mounting T-bolts on each of said end caps in each of two reversed positions, said means including a central threaded bore formed in said end caps, said transverse T-slot extending into registry with said threaded bore, and snap retainer means for securing said T-bolt in said T-slot in said central location thereof, whereby said end-to-end connection is provided by a T-bolt moved into said transverse T-slot in an end cap of one member and threaded into said threaded bore of the end cap of an endwise mating elongate support member; and, wherein said T-bolt in a reversed position enables transverse mounting by disposing the T-portion of said T-bolt into said longitudinal T-slot of one member and threading an opposite end of the T-bolt into the bore in the end cap of another support member. 
     
     
       9. The photography stand system according to claim 8 wherein said means for retaining said T-bolt in said T-slot comprises a wire formed into a pair of legs having oppositely located radius portions thereof having a smaller radius than the outside diameter of said T-bolt shank section, whereby said T-bolt may be slid into and secured therein by frictional engagement with said wire form. 
     
     
       10. The photography stand system according to claim 9 wherein said means for mounting said wire form to said end cap comprises a triangular shaped recess formed into said end cap and means mounting said wire form in said recess with said point of convergency with said wire form legs and said apex of said triangular recess in substantial alignment. 
     
     
       11. The photography stand system according to claim 7 wherein each of said elongate support members is formed with four longitudinal T-slots formed therein, each pair being aligned opposite each other about the axis of said elongate support member. 
     
     
       12. The photography stand system according to claim 2 wherein said means mounting each of said support members to said platform comprises clamp assembly means, each of said clamp assembly means mounted to one of said elongate support members at one end, each clamping assembly means including a T-bolt including a head portion, an end cap mounted to one end of each of said elongate support members; a T-slot formed in each of said end caps, said T-bolt head portion disposed in said slot in said respective end caps and further incuding means for clamping said T-bolts in said slots. 
     
     
       13. The photography stand system according to claim 3 wherein each of said clamping assembly means comprises a clevis mounted to said T-bolt and means pivotally mounting each of said clevises to said platform enabling swinging adjustable movement of each of said legs with respect to said platform. 
     
     
       14. The photography stand system according to claim 7 wherein said means for mounting said elongate support members in transverse relationship further includes a coupling mounted at at least one end of said elongate support member, said coupling including a pair of coupling members and means mounting said coupling members to be relatively rotatable while being relatively axially fixed; oppositely extending T-bolts, one each mounted to a respective coupling member with the head portion remote therefrom; locking means selectively operable to lock said coupling members against relative rotation. 
     
     
       15. A legged stand system comprising a plurality of elongate support members, each of said elongate support members having at least one T-slot extending along the length thereof; means for assembling said securing said elongate support members together into a legged support structure in which each of said elongate support members serves as legs;   at least one coupling sleeve including a T-bolt threadedly received in said sleeve and having a T-portion disposed in said T-slot, each of said support elements further including a face portion extending along the length thereof adjacent said T-slot, whereby said coupling sleeve may be rotated towards said T-portion to clamp said sleeve and T-portion on opposite sides of the face portion of the support member at any point along the length thereof, said coupling sleeve further including means for mounting fixtures thereto; and   end caps for said support members having a face with a slot for receiving the T-portion of the T-bolt and a threaded bore in the face for engaging a threaded portion of the T-bolt;   whereby said legged stand system enables adjustable positioning of said coupling sleeve at points along the length of any of said elongate support members and connection of said support members together in an end-to-end relationship by the use of said T-bolts in cooperation with the end caps.